Airport Name: London Gatwick Airport
Airport Code: LGW
Telephone: +44 (0)870 000 246

London Gatwick Airport,
Gatwick,
West Sussex,
RH6 0JH 

Gatwick is located 28 miles south of London, it has excellent rail and road links making it very easily accessible. Gatwick began its life back in 1931 as a private airfield that was owned by the Home Counties Aviaton Services. Offically known as London's second airport it has established itself as a major international hub, and the current owners BAA are investing £100million in redevelopment. The airport has two terminals- North and South- which 70 airlines fly to over 200 worldwide destinations. It is now Britain's second busiest airport, with a staggering 30million passengers taking off from its single runway each year.

Getting there by Car

London Gatwick is 45kms (28 miles) south of London, directly linked to the M23 motorway at junction 9 and to the A23 London-Brighton road. The M25 is a 10 minute drive from Gatwick Airport, connecting it with the UK's extensive road and motorway network.

Getting there by Taxi

Checker Cars is Gatwick Airport's official concessionaire. Taxis can be pre-booked with fares paid in advance by cash or credit card, or at the end of the journey. Cars with swivel seats are available for disabled travellers. Contact Checkers Cars South terminal or Checkers Cars North terminal.

Getting there by Bus / Coach

Gatwick's coach station is at the ground floor of South Terminal and principle services also call at North Terminal.

Passengers arriving at South Terminal, but requiring North Terminal, should take the Inter Terminal Transit.

Speedlink Airport Services operates the coach and bus information desks in both terminals and in the Coach Station. For more information contact Traveline.

Getting there by Train

Gatwick Express is a non-stop service between Victoria Station, London and Gatwick Airport which runs every 15 minutes from 05:20 to 00:50 and hourly overnight. The journey from London to Gatwick takes 30 minutes.

Gatwick railway station is directly linked to Gatwick's South Terminal, just a few minutes away from the North Terminal via the free Inter Terminal Transit train which runs every 3 minutes. Trains to the rest of the UK are offered by South Central, Connex South Eastern, Thames Trains and Virgin Trains Cross Country.

Rail information and ticket desks are in the arrivals areas of both the North and South Terminals. For more information contact National Rail.

Services

• Bureau de Change - available in both terminals
  
• Cash Machines - throughout both terminals
  
• Information - kiosks in both terminals
  
• Left Luggage - north terminal near entrance
  
• Luggage Trolleys - available throughout
  
• Postal Services - mail boxes and stamps available in both terminals
  
• Chapel - in The Village in the South terminal
  
• Payphones - available throughout
  
• Toilets - available throughout with showers, baby changing and disabled facilities
  
• Car Hire - available from both terminals
  
• Taxi - on forecourt of both terminals
  
• Trains - entrance to station from south terminal
  
• Airport Lounge - in both terminals
  
• Conference and Business Centre - 7th floor, south terminal
  

Shopping

• There are extensive shopping options throughout both terminals including newsagents, gifts, accessories, books, music, jewellery, health and beauty and Duty Free.
  
• Names include Boots, Body Shop, Virgin, W H Smiths, Accessorize, Dixons, Tie Rack, Sunglasses Hut, Topshop, Harrods and several designer shops.
  

Eating

• North Terminal, Before security - The Bridge Bar, Café Uno Presto, Costa, McDonalds
  
• After security - Aqua, Chez Gerard, Cavier House, Eat, Garfunkel's, Metro, Starbucks, Pip, JD Weatherspoon, Yo Sushi.
  

• South Terminal, Before security - Café Nero, Frankie and Bennys, McDonalds, Pizza Express, Starbucks, JD Weatherspoon
  
• After security - Metro, Caviar House, Est Est Est, Garfunkels, McDonalds, The Sports Bar, Upper Crust, Yates
  

Disabled

Both the North and South Terminals offer

• Both the North and South Terminals offer:
  
• Ramps
  
• Wider access pathways
  
• Telephones at a height accessible to wheelchair users
  
• Disabled toilet facilities
  
• Reserved seating for disabled people in check-in areas
  

Children

• Specially equipped rooms for feeding and changing in both terminals
  
• Play area in South terminal
  
• Video games in both terminals

here are twelve Gatwick airport parking pre-book options. The available car parks are:

• APH (min stay 8 days summer/3 days winter)
  
• BCP (no min stay)
  
• BCP Meet & Greet (no min stay)
  
• Cophall Farm Parking (min stay 3 days)
  
• Cophall Farm Meet & Greet (min stay 3 days)
  
• Courtlands (min stay 8 days)
  
• CPS Personal Parking (min stay 2 days)
  
• Flightpath North (min stay 1 day)
  
• Holiday Parking (min stay 8 days)
  
• Parking Express South (min stay 1 day)
  
• PAS Meet & Greet (no min stay)
  
• Summer Special South (min stay 5 days)
  

Short Stay

The short stay car parking option at Gatwick airport is recommended for stays up to 5 hours and is available at both the South and North terminals. There is a covered walkway connecting the car park and the terminals.

• Prices start at £1.90 for up to half an hour.
  

Fast Track

The Fast Track parking option is located within the short stay car parks of both terminals and offers undercover parking with a quick, convenient link into the terminal building.

• Prices start at £12.00 for up to three hours.
  

Long Stay Parking

The Gatwick long stay car parks offer secure parking for holidays and longer stays. There are a range of different car parks available and all are connected to the airport via regular bus and coach transfer services. It is advisable to book long stay car parking at Gatwick in advance so as to secure a space and get the best prices.

 

Valet Parking

If you would prefer not to transfer between the car park and the terminal you can choose the Gatwick airport valet parking service. A chauffeur will meet you at the terminal and take your car to a secure compound, you are then free to check in with plenty of time and then have your car delivered back to you at the terminal on your return.

• In 1931 what is now known as London Gatwick Airport was a private airfield owned by Home Counties Aviation Services.
  
• Serious development was later carried out and the first terminal, together with taxiways and aprons, was opened in 1936. Passengers arriving by train could walk into the airport through subways and covered walkways.
  
• Gatwick suffered from a lack of paved runways and was eventually abandoned by its principal airline operator in 1938.
  
• Gatwick's war time role as a Royal Air Force base saw it grow through the acquisition of the local racecourse but when it was returned to civil use in 1946 it was still basically a grass airfield.
  
• In 1953 the Government decreed Gatwick as London's second airport.
  
• The old airport was closed for major re-development. When it officially re-opened three years later Gatwick had been transformed into a modern facility with a 2000 feet runway, a terminal incorporating a rail station and a covered pier linking terminal with aircraft, the first of its kind in the UK.
  
• Charter traffic became big business in the 1980s and with more than a million passengers then using Gatwick the terminal was extended and two more piers built.
  
• Gatwick still ranked only fourth busiest of UK airports but British United Airways, then the main operator, was steadily introducing scheduled services.
  
• In 1978 London Gatwick Airport became a transatlantic gateway. By the time Delta, Braniff and British Caledonian started up their routes to the USA Gatwick had already extended its runway to handle the long haul jets and further improved the terminal.
  
• Passenger traffic hit the 10 million mark in the 1980s and has continued to grow at a phenomenal rate, reaching over 31 million in 2001.
  
• The South and North Terminals opened as Gatwick established itself as Britain's second busiest airport and an international player.
  
• Gatwick is anxious to build a second runway to meet growing demand. But there is strong opposition from local residents and environmentalists.